Explore Ireland and Irish America at the

Patrick J. Dowling Library

Overview
Library News
Titles
Hours
Donations
Fun Facts
History

ICCC The Library Collection:

The library, located on the ground floor of the UICC, contains more than 3,000 titles on a number of subjects regarding Ireland and Irish America:

Archaelogy, Architecture, Art, Biography, Cooking, Crafts, Genealogy, History (Ancient and Modern), Immigration, Literature (novels, poetry, plays and short stories), Music (including music scores), Mythology and Folklore, Religion, Sports, and Travel.

The library also has books written in the Irish language.

The Friends of the Patrick J. Dowling library:

The Friends of the Patrick J. Dowling library was set up to support the goals and mission of the library by sponsoring fund raisers, cultural & literary events, & classes, and by coordinating publicity. SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL LIBRARY BY JOINING THE FRIENDS OF THE PATRICK J. DOWLING LIBRARY TODAY As a member, you will receive: special invitations to events and classes, no cost or reduced cost of admission to some events, and 5% reduction in price at book sales.

2012 Library MIssion Statement & Goals

BOOK SALE
The book sale of duplicate books on St. Patrick's Day was a huge success – thanks to the library's supporters and to a great group of volunteers who worked for months to get the books ready for sale. The profit was in excess of $1200. If you were not able to attend the book sale but are interested in purchasing books, we are in the process of preparing a list of books still available for sale, which will be posted at the library and online.

PICTURE OF IRISH PIPERS BAND
Patricia D’Arcy has donated a wonderful picture of the Irish Pipers Band from the mid 1930s for display in the library. We are still trying to identify all the pipers. Stop by the library and check out the picture and see if you can help us identify them.

O'Kief, Coshe Mang, Slieve Lougher and Upper Blackwater in Ireland . Albert Casey (ed.) Alabama: Knocknagree Historical Fund, 1952-1967. 13 volumes.
If you or your ancestors came from north-west Cork or east Kerry, the area known as Sliabh Luachra, you might want to check out Albert Casey's huge compilation of genealogical material from the area, which is in the library’s collection. There are transcriptions of parish registers, reprints of Smith's histories of Cork and Kerry, a reprint of an edition of the Annals of the Four Masters, transcriptions of gravestone inscriptions, copies of marriage and death notices from newspapers and Casey's own speculations on the origins of the Celts and on the relationship of people on the west coast of Ireland to other European peoples. Although the book has its faults, it is an extremely valuable resource for anyone doing research about the Sliabh Luchra area. Prior to using the book for genealogical research, you should be prepared by reviewing the online index. For more information, there are several online sources including: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/caseydescription.html http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/casey.html

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Congratulations to our team of volunteers who accomplished so much during the last year. Our accomplishments include the following:

Development of a talented team of volunteers-Samantha Cairo-Toby, Josephine Coffey, Cristin Creighton, Pat Darcy, Patty Diner, Patty Dowling, Loretta Marcel, Valerie McGrew, Jean McNab, Lora Templeton
Automating part of card catalog
Development of the Facebook page
Making substantial progress on the organization of the Irish book project
Organizing a successful fundraiser and raising over $2000
Developing a reliable schedule for the library hours
Sorting thru an extensive amount of books in storage to determine what can be sold and what can be retained for the collection

Browse Our Titles:

Journals
New Titles: By Author / By Title
Genealogy Bibliography
Bulletins, Newsletters and Reports
Magazines
Newspapers
NEW - Videos - Patrons can view the videos on the library's VCR.
NEW -Microfilm and Microfiche*

*Thanks to Thomas and Regina Wrin's generous donation of microfilmed early San Francisco newspapers, census and city directories, patrons can research their Irish American ancestors that settled in the city as well as over 2,300 early Irish societies that existed here 1849-1927. Mr. Wrin's Early San Francisco Newspaper Index (ESFNI) CD-ROM, available at the library, connects the researcher to the library's microfilmed newspaper archives. Microfilm readers and printer, also donated by the Wrins, are available for use at the library. In addition, the library has microfilms and microfiche of various newspapers from other California counties, 1840-1860 Massachusetts census, and 1861-1863 Boston City Directories.

######### Scheduled Hours:

Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 1:30 to 4:30 pm.*
2700 45th Avenue San Francisco 94116 (Library entrance near Wawona St.)

It is advised to call or email the library before coming to confirm hours.

Phone: (415) 661-2798
email: library@irishcentersf.org

######### Reading Material Donations:

Interested in donating reading materials to the library? Please review the Library's Donation Guidelines and Procedure and consult with the librarian before dropping off any materials.

One of the library's goals is to add more books to the new Children's Section. In particular, the library would like an Irish language dictionary for children, as well as books on Irish and Irish American history, culture and sports written for this age group.

The Friends of the Patrick J. Dowling library:

Financial Contributions:

Please consider making a contribution to the Patrick J. Dowling Library.

Your contribution to The Irish Cultural Centre of California, a public not-for-profit 501(c)3, is fully tax deductible. 100% of your contribution will go directly to the upkeep of the Patrick J. Dowling Library. Contributions (cash or check) can be accepted during library hours (Thursday, Friday, Saturday 1:30 - 4:30pm).

For more information, please contact Librarian at library@irishcentersf.org or 415-661-2798.

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FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PATRICK J. DOWLING LIBRARY

The Patrick J. Dowling Library, which opened April 5, 1975, is the first all-Irish library in the United States
The library has inspired other Irish cultural centers in the U.S. to create their own all-Irish library
Most of the collection has been donated
The oldest book in the library is Fingal, An Ancient Epic Poem by James MacPherson, published in 1763
Nearly 1,000 people visited the library in 2009
There are approximately 5,000 books in the library
885 new books were added to the library shelves in 2009
758 books were donated to the library in 2009
The library also has newspapers, journals, magazines, books in the Irish language, books for children (in Irish and English), genealogy resources, sheet music, comedy and music cassettes, videos, and records
The library archives the history of the United Irish Cultural Center as well as the library
Distinguished visitors include Gerry Adams, Member of Parliament and President of Sinn Fein; the late Senator Edward Kennedy; the late Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill; Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland; Mary Robinson, President of Ireland; and filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick, scriptwriter and co-producer of the documentary Boys of St. Columb's

AUTHORS AND SCHOLARS WHO USED THE LIBRARY

Daniel Cassidy, author of How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads
Professor John Walsh, Irish Language Lecturer at the University of Galway , gathered information on the Irish language spoken and taught in San Francisco from the library's microfilm of the Monitor and Leader newspapers.
John Borgonovo, editor of Florence and Josephine O'Donoghue's War of Independence.
Gerry Mullins, who wrote the text to Dorothea Lange's Ireland, the Oakland Museum 's exhibition catalog
Rose Murphy, author of Ella Young, Irish Mystic and Rebel: From Literary Dublin to the American West

RARE AND SIGNED BOOKS

Borstal Boy, signed by author Brendan Behan
Collected Poems of Padraic Colum, signed by the author
The Aran Islands by J.M. Synge, drawings by Jack Yeats
Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland edited and translated by John O'Donovan, published 1848-1851
Eamon de Valera, by the Earl of Longford and Thomas P. O'Neil. Signed by de Valera.
Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland by Thomas Crofton Croker
Days of Fear by Frank Gallagher. First edition signed by author
Deirdre signed by author James Stephens
Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook Easter, 1916

MORE RARE AND SIGNED BOOKS

Servant of the Queen: Reminiscences by Maud Gonne McBride, signed by author
My Kilkenny I.RA .Days 1916-1922 by James J. Comerford. Only three other U.S. libraries have this book.
Eamon de Valera's 1920 speech to the U.S. government requesting recognition of Ireland as an independent state
Rebel Cork's Fighting Story from 1916 to the Truce with Britain
Kiskeam Versus the Empire by J.J. O Riordain. The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. is the closest library that has this book.
Bound copies of the Nation newspaper, published in New York , 1848-1849 and the Irish Miscellany newspaper, published in Boston , 1858
Irish Folk Music, compiled by Captain Francis O'Neill. First edition and signed by O'Neill.
Big Tree of Bunlahy: Stories of My Countryside by Padraic Colum and illustrated by Jack Yeats
The Year of the Irish Hunger Strike, published by the Irish Northern Aid Committee
Ireland's Fight for Freedom, signed by author George Creel

VISITOR PROFILES THIS PAST YEAR

Patrons seeking information about President Obama's Irish roots
UC Berkeley Haas fellow researching Irish prisoners in English jails 1916-1946 was elated finding a document relating to this subject, the very same document not available to him during his summer visit to an Irish library. According to him, the Dowling library has more books on Ireland than the entire UC library system.
Patron researching Irish myth and folklore for Ulster Cycle Conference presentation held in Coleraine in Summer 2009 said the library's resources were "invaluable".
City College student researching the women's suffrage movement in Ireland
City College student researching Father Peter Yorke and the labor movement in San Francisco
St. Ignatius student researching the pros and cons of Eamon de Valera
Walsh scholarship applicants gathering information for their essays submissions. They won.
Middle school student needing photos/illustrations of coffin ships for Irish immigration project
Patron photocopied map of his family's ancestral town for his second grader grandson's school project
Patrons interested in information on the origin of their family surnames and their Irish roots in San Francisco
Fiddler listening to cassette of Irish fiddle master Michael Coleman
Parents reading Irish fairy tales with their children
Caterer looking for information on the history of Irish cooking
Patrons interested in these subjects: knitting, military history, Scots Irish immigration, literature, music, travel, language, pirate queen Grace O'Malley, the Celts, Brian Boru, the KRB, Ireland during World War II, the Kennedy family, recipes and how the harp became the national symbol of Ireland
Emails from other states and abroad from people seeking genealogy assistance

ICCC History of the Patrick J. Dowling Library

Named after its first library director, Patrick J. Dowling (1904-1998), the library opened on April 5, 1975, a month after the United Irish Cultural Center opened.

Dowling immigrated from Camross, County Laois, arriving in San Francisco in 1926. When plans were made to build the United Irish Cultural Center, it was Dowling's idea to create an all-Irish library and archives. To accomplish this, he set aside his real estate business to travel in the U.S. and Ireland, soliciting book and journal donations. Homes and businesses served as donation centers. Initially he brought the books back with him or paid for their shipment to San Francisco. Later, an acquaintance in the shipping business took over the job of transporting donated materials without charge.

Until the construction of the center was completed, Dowling and Dan and Margaret Keohane stored the library materials in their homes. Mary Green, a librarian originally from Dublin, cataloged these first donations. The Patrick J. Dowling Library inspired other Irish communities in the U.S. and abroad to create an all-Irish library.

Consul General of Ireland, Brendan Moran, and City Librarian, Kevin Starr, were some of the many notable attendees at the library's dedication. Following the ceremony, a luncheon for approximately 150 was held at the center.

Mr. Dowling authored "California, the Irish Dream (1988) and "Irish Californians (1998), which are part of the library's many resources on Irish America.

The library's guestbooks chronicle visits by people from all around the world, including several distinguished people such as Tip O'Neill (pictured above), former speaker of the United States House of Representatives; Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland; and Mary Robinson, President of Ireland. Over the years, dedicated volunteers -- professional library workers, bibliophiles, and supporters of Irish and Irish-American culture -- have generously given their time to keep the library going. And thanks to bighearted donors, the library's collection continues to grow, connecting patrons to all things Irish and Irish American. Past Library Directors: Patrick J. Dowling, 1975-1993; Thomas J. Carey, 1993-July 1999; Kevin J. Mullen, August 1999-2004; Joan Riordan Manini, 2004-January 2008.